Nice Eclat at auction

[Herc]

I noticed this in an ad I received today:

 

http://auctionata.com/intl/o/91683/lotus-eclat-year-of-manufacture-1980

 

 

[Mark Blanchard]

That's in time warp condition!  Other than a few stone chips, it looks like it's just come out of the factory.  The dash looks very smart too.

 

Would be very interested to see how much that goes for.

[Dunc]

stunningly good looking car

 

Duncan

[Tocus]

This is really a good nice looking car, and they are getting rare, if there is a Elite into this condition, i am also interested!

(good colour also!)

[Emmerg]

wow - looks like a press photo from back in the day !

[esprit s2]

It does look quite impressive!

[Elite7]

hmmm...have you zoomed the pictures? looks nice and clean on first view...but thats all....

 

rather dirty enginebay

 

check the area on the front bumper behind the number plate mount: still dirty, the easy accessable area was cleaned.

 

looks like the car was stried long time, collecting dust and a quick clean for the auction pics....

 

5k starting, 10k expected??? lol....i would say its a 3.5k car

 

any prove of the chassis being galvanized?

 

no suspension pictures

 

waistband trim front left scratched

 

rubber-trim around rear bumper (towards body) not well fitted.

 

rusty tailpipes

 

non-period radio fitted

 

i know those are fussy details.....but we talk about an expected 10k sales price!!!

[Kimbers]

I spoke to Michael who is the guy in charge over there at the Auction. Put him right on a few things in his write up on the car, about who designed it etc. Had a great chat. He's a Lotus freak himself and has a mk2 Lotus Cortina and is looking to buy a Mk1. I told him I thought the 4 seater Lotus's will be a great investment as they are so cheap.

 

Be interesting to see what it makes!

[Elite7]

now i have recogniuzed that this car was sold by an auctioneer outside UK....no wonder about that price.....7000pound is a lot of money for a "non -restored" car......

[Loose Cannon]

If we keep talking down the value of our cars we are all losers Ax. I'm sick of seeing cars that used to be a pittance go ballistic no matter how crap they are whilst ours sink (£125000 Fiat Dinos and £20000 Capris?) Don't you think they have their own little set of problems? Do their owners moan about them all over the forums or just sit back and smile?

[esprit s2]

7000 pounds is not a lot of money for a Lotus. I agree with Mark and say why do "we" always talk down the value of our cars?

7000 pounds buys you a 4 year old Ford Focus.

We're talking about a Lotus here!!!

I would pay 10k for that Éclat if I didn't have my Elite. I have spent WAY more than that on my car and it's not finished yet!

[Elite7]

we shoud not forget: the car was auctioned in germany. outside UK those cars are often sold 50-70% higher than in UK...but usually including local registration documents.

 

the problem with the "E" models is, that the value is so low, that any investment will not pay-off.

 

i agree, you can easily spent 10k or more in restoring a basket-case, but finally the vlaue will not increase proportional.

 

restoring classisc cars, besides some brands and models, is always a money-loosing-business.

Edited December 23, 2014 by Elite7

[Kimbers]

I think the value will increase substantially.

 

When I sold my S4, 5 years ago, I was offered a low mileage lovely V8 for £12-14,000. Now you can't get a decent one under £20k. Excels have already shown signs of improving with values 2 years ago, for a good one at £2.5 to 4.5k. Now I regularly see them sell at £5k to 7k.

 

I think any classic Lotus will appreciate and I think the 4 seaters are a great investment waiting to happen!

[Elite7]

for that price the auctioneers should have been able to supply chassis pictures, as they havent,  i doubt that this car looks really "brilliant" underneath which will suport my concerns about the high sales price.